Monday, January 08, 2007

Steelers Fans, Meet Mike Tomlin - UPDATE

Update - January 8, 2007 2:47PM (PST)Wayne Huzenga's plan is in the air, on its way to Minnesota. For a look at where Mr. Huizenga's been recently click here to look at Flightware.com. The fine folks at Pro Football Talk found this information -- ahh, the miracle of the internet!

Update - January 8, 2007 10:35AM (PST)The NFL Network is reporting that Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga is travelling to Minnesota to interview Mike Tomlin for the head coaching position there.

Additionally, theLos Angeles Times is reporting that Mr. Huizenga travelled to Costa Rica over the weekend to interview USC head coach Pete Carroll who is vacationing with his family there. The NFL Network is also reporting that Mr. Huizenga's private jet stopped in Jacksonville, where Mike Tice was interviewed, before continuing to Minnesota.

Original PostingBoth the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (see below) are reporting that the Rooneys are planning to interview Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Mike Tomlin -- who replaced Herm Edwards as the Tampa Bay defensive backs coach in 2001 -- for the Steelers' head coaching position.

In 2006 the Vikings' defensive unit finished 1st in average rushing yards allowed per game (61.6), 8th in the NFL in average yards allowed per game (300.2 -- .1 yard less than the Steelers' defense), 14th in average points allowed per game (20.4), and 32nd against the pass.

One of the best things about making Mike Tomlin head coach would be the opportunity to bring Vikings' running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to Pittsburgh to replace Dick Hoak. Mr. Bieniemy, who did an amazing job at my alma mater, UCLA, is one of the most intelligent and enthusiastic position coaches in the all of football.

"The Steelers have received permission to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin for their head coaching position.

Tomlin, 34, finished his first season directing the Vikings' defense. He joined them last year after coaching the defensive backs at Tampa Bay the previous five years. He also coached the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive backs in 1999 and 2000.

Before he became an NFL assistant, he was an assistant coach at three different colleges from 1995 through 1998. He played wide receiver at William & Mary.

Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga met in Pittsburgh last night with Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt to talk about the head coaching job in Miami. Huizenga was joined by Joe Bailey, the Dolphins' chief executive officer, and club president Bryan Wiedmeier."

Additionally, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that Bears' Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will be interviewed in Chicago on Sunday, then back in Pittsburgh Russ Grimm is scheduled to be interviewed Monday and Ken Whisenhunt on Tuesday.

Not mentioned in this article is Chargers' Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, which would seem to indicate that the Steelers' braintrust is confident that if they decide to go with an offensive coach the in-house candidates are the best of that group.